Ex-Ga. cop pleads not guilty to homicide charge

By Rachel Brown
The Dalton Daily Citizen

VARNELL, Ga. — James Smith, the former Varnell police officer who authorities say crashed his patrol car into a newspaper carrier’s vehicle last March, killing the carrier, pleaded not guilty to first degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving on Thursday.

Smith and his attorney, Ralph Hinman, declined comment after a brief appearance before Judge Cindy Morris at the Whitfield County Courthouse. Smith is scheduled for trial March 11.